International Journal of Legal Medicine
Volume 132, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 1197-1204

Violence against African migrant women living in Turin: clinical and forensic evaluation (Article)

Castagna P. , Ricciardelli R. , Piazza F. , Mattutino G. , Pattarino B. , Canavese A. , Gino S.*
  • a Città della Salute e della Scienza, Centro Soccorso Violenza Sessuale, Presidio Ospedaliero Sant’Anna, corso Spezia 60, Turin, 10126, Italy
  • b Laboratory of Criminalistic Sciences “Carlo Torre”, Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, corso Galileo Galilei 22, Turin, 10126, Italy
  • c Laboratory of Criminalistic Sciences “Carlo Torre”, Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, corso Galileo Galilei 22, Turin, 10126, Italy
  • d Laboratory of Criminalistic Sciences “Carlo Torre”, Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, corso Galileo Galilei 22, Turin, 10126, Italy
  • e Città della Salute e della Scienza, Centro Soccorso Violenza Sessuale, Presidio Ospedaliero Sant’Anna, corso Spezia 60, Turin, 10126, Italy
  • f Città della Salute e della Scienza, Centro Soccorso Violenza Sessuale, Presidio Ospedaliero Sant’Anna, corso Spezia 60, Turin, 10126, Italy, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, corso Dogliotti 14, Turin, 10126, Italy
  • g Laboratory of Criminalistic Sciences “Carlo Torre”, Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, corso Galileo Galilei 22, Turin, 10126, Italy

Abstract

The phenomenon of migration is often related to violence and exploitation. Data collection in conflict-affected countries is hard and complicated by the lack of literature, especially on the health of migrant female victims of violence. The aim of our study has been to realise a clinical and forensic evaluation on African female migrant’s global health through their admissions to the Rape Centre “Soccorso Violenza Sessuale” at Sant’Anna Hospital in Turin. In our sample, we considered several aspects such as place where the violence occurred, number and the identity of the perpetrators, use of physical restraint instruments and/or substances, kidnapping, prostitution under duress, abuses, pregnancies and outcomes, injuries and complained symptoms, female genital mutilation, and sexually transmitted diseases. The sample consisted of 143 women, of which 136 were victims of violence. In 72.8% of the episodes, the perpetrator of violence was an unknown subject. Of the women, 58.8% reported being abused in Libya, 92.6% were victims of sexual violence, and 30.2% became pregnant after sexual abuse. The physical examination of the sample showed that 34.6% of women had at least a scar and that 12.5% reported a female genital mutilation. This is the first database on health of African female migrants in Turin area collecting data on migration, violence, and physical and psychological effects of abuse. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

Global health Forensic evaluation migrant women Non-partner violence Clinical evaluation Partner violence

Index Keywords

induced abortion Abortion, Induced human pregnancy rate middle aged Cicatrix violence statistics and numerical data ethnology sexually transmitted disease Sexually Transmitted Diseases Young Adult Humans psychology Adolescent female Africa pregnancy scar Circumcision, Female female genital mutilation adult migration Sex Offenses Italy crime victim Transients and Migrants Physical Examination sexual crime Torture Crime Victims
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85048601912&doi=10.1007%2fs00414-017-1769-1&partnerID=40&md5=660de23910b3ac51fe9b96d4eb2cf164
DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1769-1
ISSN: 09379827
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English